The Konawaena Wildcats know travel, all right.
Come Christmas week, the six-time Hawaii girls basketball state champions will fly to Washington D.C. to play in the Title IX Tournament and Conference.
Coach Bobbie Awa’s team has won six HHSAA state titles in the past 12 years, including last season’s crown. The Wildcats are led by four Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15 selections: player of the year Chanelle Molina, Celena Jane Molina, Ihi Victor and Cherilyn Molina.
The tournament will be held Dec. 27-30 at the D.C. Armory.
In a press release, Awa said: “This experience will last a life time for some of our girls. We’ve been invited to other good tournaments, but this is an opportunity for them to learn about Title IX, where their opportunities came from.”
Last year’s squad finished at No. 23 nationally and knocked off nationally-ranked Riverdale Baptist (Md.) and Miramonte (Calif.) en route to a 31-1 season.
Playing in Awa’s Kona Stingrays club program, many of the Wildcats have travelled to the West Coast to play in summer tournaments. This is believed to be the first trip to the East Coast by a Hawaii high school girls basketball team.
The Wildcats girls basketball team is now seeking a title sponsor for the trip. For more information, call Coach Awa at 896-6433, athletic director Bill Trumbo at 936-5708 or team booster Bobby Command at 895-2416.
Iolani girls traveled to play in Atlanta in 1994. Kamehameha girls traveled to play in Florida in 1985. As for the Wildcats how about fundraising instead of asking for free money. And shouldn’t a sponsor be found before planning a trip?
I am not a believer of kids asking for sponsors or getting free money either. I say fundraise the money yourself. If you cannot afford it, then find someplace that you can afford. What’s next? This is no different than the kids on the side of the road disrupting traffic with their fishnets asking for free money. If you want money you work for it. What are we teaching these kids? Getting free money without having to work for it is okay? I guess the end goal is being on welfare?
Totally agree. Work for your money kids. And for the adults who are campaigning for free money, auwe! What are you teaching your players? Let’s take free money. Well traveling to the mainland isn’t the end of the world. So if you don’t got money, then don’t travel. It is just that simple.